The Ranch

The Ranch has instant wow-factor. It is a spacious, traditional old chalet that was a farmhouse and has been beautifully renovated. As soon as you walk in you are greeted by its huge open-plan living space with original wooden beams and giant central fireplace. Its rustic and wooden and a bit quirky. Just fab.

You can tell this luxury Morzine ski chalet was once a farmhouse. It is wood galore, with a double height ceiling in the main living space making it spacious but still warm and alpine. There is a giant feature fireplace that sits in the middle of the living room and spans two floors, creating a perfect focal point for gathering beside on the cosy sofas. Antique furniture and old ski gear features throughout, and there is even an old piano.

On the other side of the roaring open fire there is a rustic, open-plan kitchen where you can watch your chef in action while nursing a glass or fizz or warming red wine.

The bedrooms in this luxury Morzine ski chalet are all really roomy, with some a little tucked up in the eaves so there is not very much headroom. There are three double rooms that can all be triples, another double room, and a mezzanine which sleeps two.

Two of the rooms are the on the ground floor and are classed as ‘superior’, both ensuite, with one featuring a huge, circular wooden bathtub. The upstairs rooms are more cosy ‘ranch’ style, each ensuite with separate loos outside the rooms. The mezzanine has a TV and can be a separate snug area or can also be another bedroom featuring two twins which can be made into a double. Guests share the bathroom of the bedroom next door.

The Ranch is a luxury catered ski chalet. The food is fresh, varied and interesting, inspired by the owners’ travels. All is locally sourced where possible and dishes range from Traditional French with a modern twist, to Asian and Japanese.

Starters might be grilled fish tacos with chilli lime mayo or sweet potato, red pepper and coconut soup, while mains might be duck confit with pressed potatoes, caramelised onions and a port and apple reduction, or balsamic pork tenderloin with truffle and parmesan risotto. Puds are similarly out of this world, ranging from a possible chai and pomegranate panacotta with honeycomb shards, to a chocolate orange melted fondant with whipped marscapone cream. All just heaven.

This luxury ski chalet has a lovely garden with an outdoor hot tub on the decking just outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows.

Children love The Ranch. There are so many nooks and crannies, as well as the TV snug area on the mezzanine, the garden and there is even a dressing up box.

The knock-out living space with vast central fireplace, the gnarled, cosy dark wood everywhere, and the old-world charm.

This isn’t cutting edge contemporary or designer, if that’s what you are looking for. The ceilings in some of the bedrooms upstairs are also a bit low in parts because the rooms are tucked in the eaves, and the bathroom facilities are a little quirkily squeezed in — but it all works!

LOCATION

This luxury ski chalet is in a lovely, quiet location, hidden away in the village of Montriond just outside Morzine. It is ideal for skiing in Morzine and Avoriaz.

GETTING THERE

Morzine is just around 1hr 15mins from Geneva, the nearest airport. Transfers can be arranged, at extra cost.

Head to the Linga run in Chatel which is steep, long and has lots of dog-leg turns, which keeps it interesting. It also has two fab restaurants by the top of the telecabine where you can sit by a fire and enjoy a yummy tartiflette or a cheese croute.

GUESTBOOK

'Great chalet. Made full use of the outdoor hot tub. Delicious food and the hosts were really attentive and friendly.'

'I would stay here for the food alone - absolutely gorgeous, and everyone goes above and beyond! Great job. We will 100% be back!!'

'This chalet does not disappoint. The lounge with the central fireplace is awesome - the chalet feels so warm and welcoming. The hosts were friendly and attentive, and really helped us get to know Morzine - telling us the best cafes on the mountain, their favourite runs, and how to make THE BEST FISH TACOS IN THE WORLD. The food was amazing. We will be back.'

ENQUIRIES

If you would like to make an enquiry or a booking, please telephone – +44 (0)7772 853996 or click here to send me a message.

Remember, I have visited all the chalets we feature so can give you totally unbiased, independent advice on all of them. The prices I quote are also the list prices quoted by the chalets themselves, so there is no advantage in going to the chalets direct.